The Korean Foundation of Puerto Rico celebrates Lunar New Year’s Day (Seol or Seollal). In Korea there is a special festival dish called tteokguk or rice cake soup. Customs says that people can grow one year older after consuming a bowl of rice cake soup on that day. In addition, younger people make a deep traditional bow to their elders and wish them a happy new year, which is called sebae (New Year’s bow). Then, the elders typically reward this gesture by giving New Year’s gift money to their juniors.
2022 The Tiger year Celebration On Feb, 19, local KFPR members, Korean families and local celebrities came together to celebrate the Lunar New Year in Puerto Rico. Guests and their children were dressed to the Korean Traditional cloth (HanBok). The Korean Foundation of Puerto Rico Lunar New Year celebration featured performances by Korean drummers and Professional Viola. Everyone was enjoyed to having a good time with buffet-style Korean dinner, wine and Korean traditional activities. Over 100 attendants had to present a negative COVID-19 test in order to be granted entry into the celebration. it was wonderful, fun and safe celebration, thanks to host Mrs. Suyon Yi, president of KFPR and Alberto Baco, director of KFPR.
Ian is a wonderful 16-year-old Puerto Rican boy who was born with Cerebral Palsy. Despite his significant life challenges, Ian is an athlete and has embraced Prone paddleboarding and surfing. Challenging himself at competitive levels has helped him grow physically and mentally. His dream is to represent Puerto Rico at the upcoming Paralympic games in surfing.
KFPR decided to support Ian with his preparation and to make his dream a reality because we believe in changing people’s lives one at a time. Ian is a role model of the commitment to make the impossible true if you believe.
KFPR organized the delivery of over 200 bags containing essential necessities (rice, canned food, sweets, toilet paper, masks, and hand sanitizer) to Puerto Ricans who had fallen on hard times due to the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Special thanks to all who volunteered including Saint John’s School and TASIS school students.
As a continuation of our support to a few families with disabled children affected by the earthquakes, a number of volunteers traveled on June 20 to visit Cassandra in her new home. Cassandra is wonderful 20 year lady who was born with hydrocephalus and is wheelchair bound. When we first met her and her mother in March, she was living in her earthquake refugee center and her wheelchair was not working. It was heartwarming to see Cassandra now living in a proper home with her parents. Thanks to our help, they were able to repair the electric wheelchair. Seeing Cassandra’s smile was incredibly rewarding. We will continue to be involved with her and her family and hope we can help her go back to college.
KFPR volunteers spent Mother’s Day to preparing 500 meals which were donated and distributed to 500 vulnerable elderly in 4 communities: Payita in Santurce, Buena Vista in Hato Rey, and Buen Consejo and Hill Brothers Sur in Rio Pedras.
KFPR , along with another donor, sponsored the cost of the food. A big thanks to Plato Restaurant who opened its doors and prepared the meals for this special event.
We invited a leading college counselor from New York to come to the island to give a free workshop as well as “one-on-one” sessions with high school juniors; she saw more than 30 students and their families.
SUPPORTING CENTRO MARIA DE LOS ANGELES, RIO GRANDE
June 2019-February 2020
The Korean Foundation of Puerto Rico organized a group of volunteers to help clean up land in Rio Grande that was donated to Centro Maria de Los Angeles. The land will be the site of summer camp for children with disabilities. The Foundation also raised $2500 for Centro Maria de Los Angeles.
On June 12, 2019, a team of dentists from the Atlanta Korean Association and Church, arrived in Puerto Rico to provide free dental exams to the local community of Puerto Ricans who don’t have insurance plans. They were part of a 30+ person team that spent a week in Lares providing free medical, dental and construction help to those in the area. The event took place at the offices of Dr. Wanda Ortiz at the Popular Center in Hato Rey. Dr. Ortiz donated her facilities, staff and time to support the event and we thank her and her staff for being such generous hosts!